Crystal Palace fans left in the dark as banished ex-Arsenal star is omitted from official squad photo
09/26/2024 11:54 AM
Crystal Palace’s men’s and women’s squads gathered for a full club photo, but there was one glaring omission.
A total of 48 players and staff squeezed together for the picture at Selhurst Park, which the Eagles captioned on social media: ‘One club.’
However, fans were quick to point out the absence of centre-back Rob Holding, who joined the club only a year ago in a £4million deal from Arsenal.
One fan wrote: “Absolutely need to know what Rob Holding has done.”
A second supporter said: “Rob Holding nowhere to be seen, I know Glasner has said that the reason he's not involved will stay as an internal matter but I'd love to know what's behind it.”
Meanwhile a third fan messaged: “Rob Holding not in the photo – honestly just terminate his contract mutually, best for all parties.”
The 29-year-old was named in Palace’s Premier League squad for the season, but has been banished from the first team by Eagles boss Oliver Glasner.
Explaining his reasoning, Glasner remarked: “Rob is training individually at the moment.
“We will talk together. He knows the reason, but it is something that stays between Rob and me. Not public.”
However, The Athletic claims the two had a falling out when Holding questioned the Palace boss about completing a post-match warm down after the 2-0 loss to West Ham in August over a fear of being injured.
Although Holding did complete the exercise, Glasner instructed him to train with the under-21s.
Holding started for Palace’s U21 side in their 3-1 win over Gillingham in the EFL Trophy clash on Tuesday.
His only appearance for the Eagles’ first team was in a Carabao Cup tie last season against Manchester United.
Outside of that, he has either been an unused substitute or being forced to watch from the stands having been left out of the matchday squad.
Earlier this month, Holding removed all traces of Palace on his Instagram and unfollowed the club on social media.
The centre-back has nosedived down the pecking order at Selhurst Park following the summer arrivals of Chadi Riad, Maxence Lacroix and Trevoh Chalobah.
Holding’s exile comes just one year into his Palace deal, which is set to expire in 2026.
He joined Palace from Arsenal, where he’d made 162 appearances, in the hope of receiving more game time.
During his stint at the Emirates, Holding won the FA Cup in 2017 and in 2020.
Holding had moved to Arsenal from Bolton in 2016, where he broke into the first team as an academy product.
Palace are yet to register a win in the Premier League this season having drawn three games and lost twice.
However, they are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions ahead of Saturday’s clash against play 19th-placed Everton at Goodison Park.
